Sam Altman says "people will lose jobs" to AI and "not everyone's going to like all of the impacts, but this is coming

Elon Musk predicts artificial intelligence (AI) will eventually replace all jobs—and sees that as a potentially positive development.

“Probably none of us will have a job,” Musk said at a tech conference on Thursday while discussing the future impact of AI.

Speaking remotely via webcam at VivaTech 2024 in Paris, Musk envisioned a future where working becomes entirely optional. “If you want to do a job that’s kind of like a hobby, you can,” he said. “But otherwise, AI and robots will provide any goods and services that you want.”

For this scenario to work, Musk emphasized the need for “universal high income,” though he did not elaborate on what that might entail. He clarified it would differ from universal basic income (UBI), which involves governments providing everyone with a set income regardless of earnings. “There would be no shortage of goods or services,” Musk added.

AI advancements have accelerated dramatically in recent years, raising questions about how to responsibly integrate the technology into society. Concerns persist about its impact on industries and employment as AI adoption continues to grow.

In January, MIT’s Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Lab found workplaces are adopting AI more slowly than initially feared. Their report revealed many jobs considered vulnerable to AI automation were not yet economically advantageous for employers to automate. Experts largely agree that roles requiring high emotional intelligence and human interaction—like mental health professionals, creatives, and teachers—are less likely to be replaced.

Musk has frequently expressed concerns about AI. On Thursday, he called it his “biggest fear,” citing The Culture series by Iain M. Banks as the most realistic depiction of an AI-driven utopian society and “the best envisioning of a future AI.”

Despite his optimism about AI taking over jobs, Musk questioned whether such a future would fulfill human emotional needs. “The real question will be one of meaning—if computers and robots can do everything better than you, does your life have meaning?” he asked. “I do think there’s perhaps still a role for humans in this—in that we may give AI meaning.”

Musk also used his appearance to urge parents to limit children’s exposure to social media, warning that they’re “being programmed by a dopamine-maximizing AI.”